Umar's Governance and Judgments

من سياسة عمر وأحكامه

When Umar appointed an official he registered his wealth, and halved the fortunes of wronging governors — a half to the treasury, a half to them. Long he ate nothing of the fisc till want touched him; he asked the Companions and Ali said 'lunch and supper' — he took that. His letter: no army or raiding amir shall flog a hadd far from the route, lest Satan's zeal carry him to the unbelievers. 'This matter stands only on a firmness without despotism and a gentleness without weakness'. A woman came: 'my husband prays all night and fasts all day' — 'well praised' — Ka'b ibn Suwar: 'she complains — she says he gives her no share' — 'then judge between them: God allowed him four women — she has a day of every four days and a night of every four nights'. And sixteen dinars spent on his hajj — 'Abdallah, we have been extravagant with this money'.